Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Saturday reviewed issues affecting the execution of works under River Jhelum National Waterway-49 and directed departments to resolve bottlenecks to ensure timely progress of the project.
According to an official statement, the meeting focused on various challenges linked to the water transport project, including removal of trees and road widening at Gund Parang, construction of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), shifting of utilities belonging to KPDCL and KPTCL, and relocation of houseboats.
The Divisional Commissioner reviewed the status of pending works and sought updates from the concerned departments regarding issues requiring inter-departmental coordination.
Taking note of the concerns raised, Garg directed all stakeholder departments to incorporate the required construction and utility-shifting works into their respective departmental plans to facilitate coordinated execution of the project.
He also instructed officials of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to carry out a joint survey of the proposed works at Gund Parang in coordination with the concerned departments and identify the land required for execution of the project.
The statement said IWAI officials were further asked to undertake a detailed assessment of existing utilities at the site, determine their exact locations and coordinate with relevant departments for their relocation wherever necessary.
Garg stressed the importance of close coordination among departments and directed officials to adhere to prescribed timelines for resolving pending issues.
He also called for regular engagement with field teams to ensure that identified bottlenecks are addressed promptly and project works proceed according to schedule.
The River Jhelum National Waterway-49 project is aimed at promoting inland water transport in Kashmir, and timely resolution of infrastructure and utility-related issues is considered crucial for its implementation.